Stinson 108-3 accident near Riverside, California, May 9, 1986
On May 9, 1986 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N994C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California (Fla-Bob airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1986 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Fla-Bob · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N994C · registry record · serial 108-3994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 24, AT FLA-BOB AIRPORT, RIVERSIDE, CA, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO 'DRIFT TO THE RIGHT.' THE CFI APPLIED LEFT RUDDER TO CORRECT THE EXCURSION BUT HIS LEFT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE RUDDER BAR AND BECAME LODGED AGAINST THE BAR AND FLOOR. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THE RIGHT TURN AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE RIGHT OF THE NOSE ABT 20 DEG AT ABOUT 7 KNOTS. THE EFFECTIVE CROSSWIND COMPONENT WAS LESS THAN 3 KNOTS. THE CFI DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRPLANE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,914 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 9,673 as pilot in command; 9,245 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,088 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4ACG199H3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from RAL, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.